MAY
14--On May 12, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Acting
Special Agent in Charge John S. Comer announced that a federal jury
in Phoenix returned a conviction on 185 counts of Illegal Distribution
of Controlled Substances against Dr. Jeffrey H. Feingold, N.M.D.,
58 years old of Fountain Hills, Ariz. Dr. Feingold’s office
is located at 7227 E. Shea Blvd., Suite B, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

After
a two week trial, Dr. Feingold was found guilty of knowingly and
intentionally distributing Schedule II and III controlled substances
outside of the usual course of professional practice and without
a legitimate medical purpose in violation of Title 21 of the United
States Code, Section 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) and (b)(1)(D). The evidence
at trial indicated that ten patients and two undercover DEA agents
posing as patients received over 10,000 doses of Schedule II controlled
substances and approximately 4,000 doses of Schedule III controlled
substances over a period of one and a half years. The numbers reflect
a representative sample of the total number of patients and number
of doses prescribed to those patients during the same time period.

Narcotics that
were prescribed include Percocet, Vicodin, Morphine and OxyContin,
among others. “When physicians cross the line and
no longer see their patient’s well being as a priority, juries
will convict them of wrongdoing,” said Paul Charlton, United States
Attorney for the District of Arizona, Phoenix.

“The verdict today sends a message that medical practitioners
who violate the laws of the United States when prescribing controlled
substances other than for legitimate medical needs, will be prosecuted
to the full extent of the law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge
John S. Comer. “We want to ensure that these powerful medications
don’t end up in the wrong hands and lead to abuse.”

The maximum penalty for the counts involving the distribution of Schedule
II controlled substances is twenty years in prison, a $250,000 fine or
both. The maximum penalty for the counts involving the distribution of
Schedule III controlled substances is five in prison, a $250,000 fine
or both.

Dr. Feingold was released until sentencing but was ordered to surrender
his passport and his DEA number in order to prevent him from writing
prescriptions for controlled substances. Sentencing is scheduled for
August 10, 2004 at 4 p.m.

The prosecution was handled by Taj Rahi-Loo, Assistant United States
Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.